Cost of Loving Increases in 2013

No, that’s not a typo; Houston Asset Management calculated consumers will be spending a total of 2.38% more for the most popular Valentine gifts this year. According to the firm’s annual “Cost of Loving Index,” the cost of giving your loved one imported Chanel No. 5 perfume skyrocketed by 14.04%. Godiva chocolates in a heart-shaped box cost 5.26% more than last year, and the price of a designer silk tie increased 3.45%.

But the majority of gifts on the list remained the same price, and consumers can spend about 9% less by expressing their affections with a candlelit dinner for two, which represents the only price decrease on the index.

Highlights of the Cost of Loving Index include:

A price of $129.07 for delivery of a dozen long-stemmed roses, the same as last year;

The cost of two tickets to a first-run movie and a Valentine’s Day greeting card remained the same;

A toast with a bottle of Simi California Chardonnay is constant at $25.85; and

The price of a silk designer nightie for her has not changed since 2011 at $68.

Houston Asset Management has been tracking the price of nine popular love-expressing gifts since 1990. More about the firm is at http://www.houstonassetmgmt.com.